Basin Campsite to Watagan Creek Road

This section of the Great North Walk starts from the Basin campsite in the Olney State Forest and winds north into the Watagans, via the Warrawolong Flora Reserve. This walk also offers a side trip from Turners Road up to the top of Mt Warrawolong, which is the highest point along the Great North Walk. The walk finishes at the Watagan Creek Road and gives a nice opportunity for that quiet drive in the country.

Basin Campsite

This large campsite sits by Wollombi Brook on the Great North Walk[1] and is accessible by car. The campsite provides a range of facilities such as a pit toilet[2], picnic tables and chairs[3], wood BBQs[4] and fireplaces[5]. Water is usually available from the water tank[6] or the nearby creek[7] – treat before use.

(0km) Basin Campsite → Int of Rock Lilly and Lyrebird trails

340 m

7 mins

41m

-4m

Moderate track

From the Basin campsite[8][9], this walk follows ‘The Great North walk’ sign, gently uphill [10][11], initially keeping the campsite on your right. The walk continues through tall open forest[12][13] for about 300m, until coming to a saddle[14], with a GNW arrow marker[15] (pointing ahead) and a ‘The Basin Camping Area’ sign[16] (Rock Lilly Trail, on the left).

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection at the edge of the saddle[17][18][19], this walk follows the GNW arrow east and gently downhill. The track leads downhill to come close to Wollombi Brook (on your left), where the track gently undulates as it leads into the dense vine and mossy forest for about 1.2km. Then over the next 700m or so, the track leads past a few sandstone caves[20][21] and crosses a few small creeks to come to a signposted three-way intersection[22][23] with ‘The Great North Walk’ and the ‘Lyrebird Trail’ track, where a sign points back to ‘Basin Camping Area’[24].

(2.2km) Int of GNW tracks & Lyrebird Trail → Wollombi Brook Pool

280 m

7 mins

19m

-27m

Hard track

Continue straight: From the intersection[25][26], this walk follows the ‘Lyrebird Trail’ & ‘The Great North Walk’ sign [27], north along the track whilst keeping the valley to your left. The walk leads through the dense forest[28] for about 250m, until crossing a mossy creek with many small boulders[29]. This creek may become impassable after heavy or prolonged rain. On the other side of this side creek, the walk comes to the edge of the delightful Wollombi Brook Pool[30][31] (on the left, at the junction of this side creek and Wollombi Brook).

Wollombi Brook Pool

The Wollombi Brook pool is located where two creeks come together and is a deep pool surrounded by moist cool forest. On a hot day, this spot would make an ideal resting spot or place for a cooling swim.

(2.48km) Wollombi Brook Pool → End of Wild Boar Road

550 m

14 mins

52m

-5m

Hard track

Turn right: From Wollombi Brook Pool[32][33], this walk follows GNW arrow post north-east steeply uphill[34], initially keeping the main pool behind and to the left. The walk zigzags up through dense forest[35], up a series of timber[36] and rock steps[37] and past some large rock walls for about 500m, until coming to the the wide and flat area at the end of the dirt Wild Boar Road[38].

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the end of Wild Boar Road[39][40] (aka Piglet Point Road), this walk follows the dirt road fairly gently uphill[41][42] to the north. The roads leads distinctly uphill for about 500m, and then gently undulates along the ridge through forest[43] for about 2.5km. Here the walk comes to a clear and signposted four-way intersection[44][45] with ‘Walkers Ridge Road’ route and ‘The Great North Walk’ track.

Hard track

Continue straight: From the intersection[46], this walk follows ‘The Great North Walk’ sign[47] north along the track that heads moderately steeply downhill. The walk continues through forest[48](with occasional timber[49] and rock steps[50]) for about 500m, to cross the usually small Wollombi Brook[51]. Then the walk climbs moderately steeply uphill[52] for about 400m, until coming to the end of the dirt Kangaroo Point Road[53][54].

(7.04km) End of Kangaroo Point Road → Int of Kangaroo Point & Murrays Forest Road

1.3 km

34 mins

146m

-9m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the end of Kangaroo Point Road[55], this walk follows the GNW arrow post north, gently uphill along Kangaroo Point Road[56]. The walk continues through forest (with the road gradually widening[57]) for about 1.3km, until coming to a signposted four-way intersection[58] with Murrays Forest Road[59] (and a wide trail[60] directly ahead).

(8.33km) Int of Kangaroo Point & Murrays Forest Road → Int of Great North Walk and Bar trail

1 km

21 mins

16m

-94m

Hard track

Turn right: From the intersection[61], this walk follows the dirt Murray Forest Road north-east, gently uphill[62] and directly away from the face of the ‘Kangaroo Pt’ sign[63]. After about 150m, this walk comes to a signposted three-way intersection[64] with the ‘Great North Walk’ trail (on your left).Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[65] north along the dirt road for about 20m to another intersection with a ‘The Great North Walk’ sign[66]. Here the walk veers right (following the sign) up along the track until it flattens out and winds down to the top of a ridgeline. The track then follows this ridgeline through an open wooded forest[67] for about 300m, to find an unsignposted area that has been used as a campsite[68], at the end of a mostly flat section.Continue straight: From the rest area[69], this walk follows the track down along the ridge line. The track winds steeply down into a saddle, where the track flattens out to lead through thicker green forest to the intersection with the narrow Bar Trail[70][71].

(9.35km) Int of Great North Walk and Bar trail → Int of Turners and Warrawolong Roads

1.2 km

25 mins

35m

-66m

Moderate track

Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[72] north-east along the narrow, overgrown trail[73]. The trail begins to widen and after about 800m, this walk turns left to follow a ‘The Great North Walk’ sign[74] down for about 20m to an intersection[75] with the wide dirt Warrawolong Road.Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[76] north, gently down along the the dirt road for about 400m to find the intersection with the dirt Turners Road, just past the ‘Mt Warrawolong’ sign[77].

Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads north-west down along the dirt road[78], initially keeping the ‘Mt Warrawolong’ sign[79] on your left and keeping the valley on your right. The road leads gently downhill along the side of the hill for just over 300m to come to a Y-intersection[80] with the Mt Warrawolong trail (on your left).Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads uphill along the upper trail[81] past the ‘Authorised Vehicles Only’ sign[82]. After about 200m, the walk heads around a locked gate[83] then continues moderately steeply uphill, winding up the hill[84] for about 1.5km to come to a large flat clearing[85] and the tall fire tower[86] at the top of Mt Warrawolong[87]. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer left.

Mt Warrawolong

At 642m above sea level, Mt Warrawolong is the highest point of the Great North Walk.

(10.57km) Int of Turners and Warrawolong Roads → Signposted Rest Area

2.3 km

53 mins

40m

-267m

Hard track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘The Great North Walk’ sign[88], (away from face of the ‘Mt Warrawolong’ sign[89]) to head east along the dirt Turners Road. After about 150m, this walk turn left at another ‘The Great North Walk’ sign[90] to follow the trail as it gently undulates along the top of the ridge for just over 1km. Here the trail begins to wind downhill, becoming steeper as it goes, for about 1.1km to head around a rock road block[91] and find the signposted rest area, where a ‘Sydney Cove’ sign[92] points back up the trail.

Watagan Creek Campsite

This is a Great North Walk signposted campsite, with plenty of room for a few tents but providing minimal facilities ie. no water, toilets or tables. There is, however, a bench and room for a fire.

Moderate track

Turn right: From the rest area[93], this walk follows ‘Newcastle’ sign[94] gently downhill[95] towards the valley, along the narrow track. The track leads downhill for almost 100m, coming to a T-intersection[96] with the dirt Watagan Creek Road[97], marked with a ‘Great North Walk’ sign[98] pointing back uphill.

Maps for the Basin Campsite to Watagan Creek Road walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

8km of this walk has short steep hills and another 3.5km is very steep. The remaining (1.8km) has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track

Around 8km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 5km follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

Around 13km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 280m is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

12km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience and another 930m requires no previous bushwalking experience. The remaining (280m) requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 13km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

11km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 1.4km has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged). The remaining (930m) is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Basin Campsite to Watagan Creek Road walk.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-olneysf-bctwcr
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather Forest

This walk starts in the Hunter weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.
http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_weather_danger.php?walkid=nsw-olneysf-bctwcr
Forecast snapshot